Anoka Republican Jim Abeler says he won’t seek re-election to his House seat as he focuses on running for U.S. Senate. Abeler, 59, a chiropractor by trade, is among several Republicans seeking to unseat Democratic Sen. Al Franken.

Sarah Palin is endorsing Minnesota state Sen. Julianne Ortman as she seeks the Republican party’s Senate nomination. The former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate says Ortman will fight for small businesses and understands “the burden our federal government places on hard-working Americans.”